If you have your sights set on a better future for yourself, then there’s a big change that college is going to play some role in that. But it’s not as simple for some young women to just get out and go to college. There are barriers, real and felt, that can get in the way. But you don’t have to accept them.

Here, we’ll look at three of the biggest barriers to success in college and what you can do about it.

FearIt’s perhaps the biggest emotional barrier to going to college. Some people have real fears about how they will be able to handle the lifestyle change. They might not truly know what they want to do with their life. They might have social anxieties and worry about a new environment with new people. They might fear the idea of failing, as well. It’s a good idea to hear some college experiences in order to do away with those fears. College is the place where a lot of us discover who we really are. With such a large community with all kinds of interest groups, it’s where we can find where we fit in. Through experiencing the courses on offer and the option to change majors, we can better figure out where we want to go. There are plenty of study groups to help you find your groove and perform better, too.

DiscriminationAs a woman or a person of color, it’s important to recognize the reality of discrimination as it exists in the real world and, indeed, on the college campus. For one, it helps to get to know your rights. Particularly, things like your Title IX rights which can help you ensure that you’re not being barred from access to a class or to athletics activities, on which you can find more from Duffy Law. College is a great place for young women to get really educated on not only the ways that discrimination exists in the wider world but how to combat it, too.

CostEveryone should have access to the same opportunities in further education but unfortunately, that’s just not a reality yet. Instead, if you’re worried about cost you should look into the many different methods you might use to reduce those costs. Applying for colleges you’re more likely to be able to pay for, like a large public college, can help. But there are also grants and scholarships you can look at as well. These exist for people from all walks of life so you don’t know whether you might be able to get some assistance until you check things like the Scholarship Search. If you’re able to, it might be worth looking at things like 529 college savings plans, too. If you’re willing to take a gap year between high school and college, you make a big contribution.

Whether you’re worried about the real fear of experiencing discrimination, of not being able to handle college life, or not being able to fund it, there are options. There are ways to break down those barriers and get the kind of experience you deserve. Hopefully, we’ve helped you find some of them.